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Apr 26, 2023 01:40 AM
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One essential factor that needs to be considered after you have decided the course and university you want to study in, is the overall cost of living in Ireland for international students. Many factors influence your cost of living in Ireland like your tuition fees, rent, food, recreation, daily spend, commute etc. Therefore, in this blog, we will talk about the major parameters that would form most of your cost of living and how you can effectively manage them.
1. Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees for your graduate program is the major factor that will influence your overall Cost of Living in Ireland. On an average, your cost for a master’s program may lie anywhere between €9950- €34,500, however the tuition fee of the different programs may change with every intake and university.
2. Living Cost
Apart from the tuition fee, there are other expenses that you need to take care of, during your stay in Ireland.
Accommodation Cost
Source : Amberstudent
Although the tuition fees for Irish universities is lower than most European nations, the same cannot be said for accommodation cost in Ireland. The accommodations in Ireland are quite expensive. The cost will, however, depend on your choice of the accommodation. On-campus accommodation is challenging to get and is also considered expensive as you will have to pay the rent for a semester or for a year at once.
When it comes to off-campus accommodations, Ireland has a number of options with varying price ranges. While private apartments may cost you €10,000 for a nine months lease, a homestay may only cost you €700 per month or roughly €8000 a year. Another option is shared accommodation, where you share the rent of your apartment or house with others; this is considered an affordable option for international students who want to live an independent life.
It is important to note that breaking a lease without notice may lead you to lose the entire deposit.
Food Expenses
Food in Ireland is affordable; however, the category of food that comes under the affordable range is limited. You will find Indian restaurants in Ireland, but the price is comparatively higher than the local foods available in the country. On average, you will have to spend €15 on a meal, if you choose to have it at a decent restaurant.
The best option is to learn cooking in order to manage your spending. You can choose to either cook occasionally or daily. You can get major discounts and other offers on food products if you choose to purchase from supermarkets like Super Valu, Lidl, Tesco, Aldi, and more.
Listed below are the prices of basic groceries in Ireland :
Items | Price |
1-litre milk | €1.09 |
1-dozen eggs | €3.42 |
1-kg apples | €2.05 |
Bread | €1.41 |
2 liters Coca-Cola | €2.43 |
Commuting Expenses
You would have to consider the cost of public transportation if you chose to reside off-campus. Public transport is pricier in Ireland when compared to some other famous destinations in the world for education. However, there are some special discounts for students using public transportation, which will only cost you around 50 – 55 EUR/month.
Students can also purchase a leap card for travel discounts on all modes of public transportation, including railways and roadways and also some instore discounts.
Health Care Insurance
All students from non-EU states are required to submit proof of medical insurance to apply for a visa and also while registering with the Garda National Immigration Bureau.
The cost of your insurance may vary depending on the insurance company you choose. The lowest annual health care insurance starts at €394. The cost of one of the most popular health care insurances called ‘Irish Life Health’ is €9.72/week.
3. Other Expenses
There are few other expenses that add to your cost of living in Ireland during your stay there.
Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) Registration
All non-EU country students coming to Ireland to study for a period of more than 90 days must register at the GardaNational Immigration Bureau (GNIB) and pay a registration fee of €300. However, this is a one time cost.
Internet
Internet access is a very crucial part of international student life; it helps students to connect with their family and friends who are miles away from them. Like India, Ireland also has Vodafone as one of their broadband providers. Vodafone’s 1000 Mbps plan with a speed of 1 Gb/s, is the fastest in the country. The cost for this service is €20/month for the initial 6 months, followed by €45/month for the next 6 months and €55/month after a year.
You should also buy an international roaming sim card, in order to make calls to your loved ones in other countries.
Clothing
It is an undeniable fact that you will have to buy new clothes when you visit a new country. However, the amount you spend on your clothes will depend on how different the destination’s weather is from your home country.
If you are from a tropical country and do not have many winter clothes, then you will have to spend more than those who are from countries with climates similar to Ireland. However, in any case, our suggestion will be to shop for all these necessities in your home country only.
Family Visits
Visiting your family during major breaks is a personal choice, and it may vary from person to person. The cost of a round trip via flight depends on the country you plan to visit. A round trip from Ireland to India will cost you €450 at the very least. You can, however, plan at least four to five months in advance and cut down the costs significantly. Enquire with the airlines for a student offer too, and you may get some additional discounts.
How Can You Save?
Tuition fees are non-negotiable; however, you can save your money in the following ways:
- The easiest way to limit your spending is by choosing to cook rather than eat at restaurants. Your food expenses will be the highest during the initial period of your stay in Ireland, as you will need time to figure out what works best for you. Later, as you learn the best option for yourself, you will be able to cut down on unnecessary spendings on food.
- Choose to walk or cycle whenever possible, as they are the cheapest and healthiest modes of transportation if the distance is less. Do not exhaust yourself by choosing to walk or cycle if the distance between your accommodation and university is too much.
- Keep a check on your spending for each month; Make it a habit to keep an account of your everyday expenses. This will help you control the flow of money and funds you have allotted for your stay in Ireland.
- Keep your shopping list to a minimum, avoid unwanted purchases. It would be a great idea to keep your purse strings tightened. Remember, the conversions apply, and every Euro spent is roughly 80 to 90 times at the very least, of your home currency, especially if you are from a developing economy.
- If you have to shop for something expensive wait till a good offer comes by or till the product goes on sale during national events or festivals.
- Although you can not negotiate on your tuition fees, part-time jobs can help you earn at least your monthly expense. A lot of students are known to even save some money through their part-time job’s earnings. You could try that too.
Cumulative Cost of Living in Ireland for International Students
The average cost of living in Ireland, excluding your tuition fees, is 7000-12000 Euros annually, which includes your rent, commuting expenses, and food.
Conclusion
Moving to another country is an expensive affair, especially even you are planning to pursue your higher education from there. Unlike travelling to Ireland for a few weeks or months, an international student has to at least stay for a year and a half in order to pursue their higher education. Therefore it is necessary for you to have an idea of your overall expense during your stay in the country; this article on Cost of Living in Ireland, was an attempt in giving you some critical insights on that front. Hope it helped.
